Head Rest Release Mechanism

ABSTRACT

The invention is a head rest actuation system which is activated by forces acting upon a seat back or devices within a seat back. Forces acting upon a seat back or lumbar devices within a seat back are transmitted to a head rest and provide and actuating force therefor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims priority of provisional application No.60/890,451 filed Feb. 16, 2007 and provisional application No.60/805,016 filed Jun. 16, 2006.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to head rests and, more specifically, toactuating head rests.

2. Related Art

Currently, many head rests move up and down and rotate backwards andforwards for varied reasons including comfort, convenience and safety.In many instances a user must move the headrest to a desired positionmanually, by holding down a button, or by pressing a switch. In manyinstances it desirable to provide automatic actuation of a headrest to adesired position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides for actuation of a headrest to a desiredposition. The disclosed system provides for transmission of forcesacting upon the body of a seat to a headrest. The transmitted force isutilized to actuate the headrest into a desired position.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a first embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a back perspective view showing the cable terminal ofthe first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a back perspective view of a first embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a back perspective view showing the stationary pointof a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a front perspective view of showing an alternatestationary point of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a back perspective view showing the a close-up of thecable terminal of the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a front perspective view of a second embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a second embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates front perspective view of a second embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 10 illustrates front perspective view of a third embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 11 illustrates back perspective view of a third embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a side perspective view of a third embodiment of theinvention in a non-headrest actuating position;

FIG. 13 illustrates a side perspective view of a third embodiment of theinvention in a non-headrest actuating position;

FIG. 14 illustrates a side perspective view of a third embodiment of theinvention in a headrest actuating position;

FIG. 15 illustrates a front perspective view of a fourth embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 16 illustrates a front perspective view of a fourth embodiment ofthe invention with the basket removed;

FIG. 17 illustrates a side perspective view of a fourth embodiment ofthe invention in a non-headrest actuating position;

FIG. 18 illustrates a side perspective view of a fourth embodiment ofthe invention in a non-headrest actuating position;

FIG. 19 illustrates a side perspective view of a fourth embodiment ofthe invention in a headrest actuating position;

FIG. 20 illustrates a front perspective view of a fifth embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 21 illustrates a perspective view of a close up of the torsionspring in a fifth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 22 illustrates a side perspective view of a fifth embodiment of theinvention in a non-headrest actuating position;

FIG. 23 illustrates a side perspective view of a fifth embodiment of theinvention in a non-headrest actuating position;

FIG. 24 illustrates a side perspective view of a fifth embodiment of theinvention in a non-headrest actuating position;

FIG. 25 illustrates a side perspective view of a fifth embodiment of theinvention in a headrest actuating position;

FIG. 26 illustrates a front perspective view of a sixth embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 27 illustrates a side perspective view of a sixth embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 28 illustrates a side perspective view of the cam in a non-headrestactuating position in a sixth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 29 illustrates a side perspective view of the cam in a headrestactuating position in a sixth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 30 illustrates a front perspective view of a seventh embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 31 illustrates a back perspective view of a seventh embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 32 illustrates a back perspective view of the slider and housing ofa seventh embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 33 illustrates a side perspective view of the hinge wire, kickstandwire and housing of a seventh embodiment of the invention in anon-headrest actuating position;

FIG. 34 illustrates a front perspective view of an eighth embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 35 illustrates a back perspective view of an eighth embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 36 illustrates a side perspective view of an eighth embodiment ofthe invention in a non-headrest-actuating position;

FIG. 37 illustrates a side perspective view of an eighth embodiment ofthe invention in a headrest-actuating position;

FIG. 38 illustrates a front perspective view of a ninth embodiment ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

According to the various exemplary embodiments set forth below, a forceis applied either to a main seat body 24 or at a location within themain seat body 24 and is transmitted to a head rest 20. The transmittedforce preferably actuates the head rest 20 causing it to move to aposition that is beneficial to a user or occupant of the seat.

According to a first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-6, thehead rest 20 is connected to a housing 22. The housing may be directlyor indirectly connected to the main seat body 24. A head rest Bowdencable 50 is connected to one side of a cable terminal 26 together with afirst bolster Bowden cable 28 and a second bolster Bowden cable 30. Afolding seat Bowden cable 32 is connected to the cable terminal 26 onthe other side.

A termination block (not shown) is preferably situated within the cableterminal 26. Each of the four Bowden cables 28, 30, 32, 50 connected tothe cable terminal 26 comprise a termination bullet (not shown) that isdisposed in a hole in the termination block. The termination block maybe provided with a track that compliments a track within cable terminalfor traveling longitudinally within cable terminal 26. The terminationblock is preferably provided with thirty-five (35) millimeters oflongitudinal travel within cable terminal.

The folding seat Bowden cable 32 is terminated at another end at astationary point 34. It will be appreciated that the stationary point 34may be located at numerous points outside of a back portion of the mainseat body 24. The stationary point 34 is selected such that when, theback portion of the main seat body 24 is pivoted from a verticalposition to a folded, horizontal position, distance between thestationary point 34 and the folding seat Bowden cable conduit 36 isincreased. In this manner tension is applied to the folding seat Bowdencable wire 38 when the seat is folded down.

As a result, the termination block within cable terminal 26 is pulledtowards the folding seat Bowden cable 32, and is pulled away from headrest Bowden cable 50, first bolster Bowden cable 28, and second bolsterBowden cable 30. As the cable terminal 26 end of the head rest Bowdencable 50 is pulled, the other end of the head rest release Bowden cable50 actuates the head rest 20. Similarly the first and second bolsterBowden cables 28, 30 provide an actuating force to first and secondlateral bolsters 40, 42. It is within the scope of the invention thatmultiple other Bowden cables could be attached to the cable terminal 26and used to actuate other devices, such as a lumbar support in a similarmanner.

Preferably the head rest 20 end of the head rest Bowden cable 50 isattached to a latch mechanism in head rest (not shown). The latchmechanism may release the head rest 20 to assume a folding forwardsposition or a folding backwards position. There may also be combined atelescoping release function wherein the head rest is released from itsextended telescoped position in conjunction with either folding forwardsor folding backwards.

The head rest latch mechanism may operate in numerous ways. In oneembodiment, the latch mechanism may release a wound coil spring.Releasing the wound coil spring will allow the spring to unwind and totorque the head rest into either a folding forwards position or afolding backwards position. The spring may be re-wound by the raising ofthe seat back frame to the upright position.

Alternatively, when the head rest Bowden cable 50 is pulled, the headrest end of the head rest Bowden cable 50 may pull the head rest 20towards a folding forwards position or a folding backwards position.Preferably, a spring opposes the folding motion of the headrest suchthat when the back portion of the main seat body is returned from afolded, horizontal position to a vertical position and the tension onthe head rest Bowden cable 50 is reduced, the spring returns the headrest 20 to an unfolded, upright position.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention illustrated inFIGS. 7-9, an adjustable lumbar support is provided comprising a basket220 supported by two mounting brackets 222. According to thisembodiment, an actuator 224 having a motor 226 and gear set 228 ispreferably attached to the basket 220. The actuator 224 drives a Bowdencable 230. The Bowden cable 230 has a wire 232 that preferably passesthrough a channel in the basket 220 and terminates at an actuatingmechanism in the head rest 20. The Bowden cable also preferably has afirst conduit portion 234 between the actuator 224 and a first side ofthe basket 220, and a second conduit portion 236 between a second sideof the basket 220 and the head rest 20. The ends of the first and secondconduit portions 234, 236 connected at their respective sides of thebasket 220 are preferably connected directly to the respective guidewires 222 or in such a manner that force applied to the ends of theconduits 234, 236 is transmitted to the respective guide wires 222 withlittle or no transmission of force through the basket 220.

Preferably the Bowden cable 230 is arranged as shown in FIG. 9, suchthat when the actuator 224 pulls the Bowden cable wire 232, the basket220 is pulled towards the lumbar region of an occupant of the seat.However, pressure applied to the basket 220 results in increased tensionin the Bowden cable wire 232. As tension in the Bowden cable wire 232increases, a greater force is applied to the actuating mechanism in thehead rest 20. The actuating mechanism in the head rest preferably causesthe head rest 20 to move towards the head of an occupant of the seat astension in the Bowden cable wire 232 increased due to and increasingload applied to the basket 220.

Third through sixth embodiments of the present invention, as illustratedin FIGS. 10-29, provide a lumbar support device comprising a basket 330slidably connected to a guide wire 332. In operation, a first and secondactuator 334, 336 preferably control the curvature and vertical positionof the basket 330, respectively. The first actuator 334 preferablyoperates a curvature Bowden cable 338 that varies the distance betweenthe upper and lower portions of the basket 330, thereby varying thecurvature of the basket 330. The second actuator 336 preferably operatesone or two vertical Bowden cables that vary the vertical position of theupper and lower portions of the basket without substantially varying thecurvature of the basket.

Although the third through sixth embodiments are illustrated inconjunction with the described lumbar support device, the disclosedmechanisms for actuating a head rest 20 could be used in conjunctionwith numerous devices located within the back of a seat. Accordingly,the scope of the present invention is not limited to the use of thedisclosed mechanisms for actuating a head rest in conjunction with thelumbar support device described above.

According to the third embodiment of the present invention illustratedin FIGS. 10-14, an upper portion of the basket 330 is preferablyslidably connected to the guide wire 332 and a lower portion of thebasket 330 is preferably slidably connected to a hinge wire 360. Asshown in FIG. 12, the hinge wire 360 is hingedly connected to a hingeplate 362, which is slidably connected to the guide wire 332. Akickstand wire 370 is hingedly attached to the hinge wire 360 on one endand hingedly connected to a kickstand plate 372, which is fixed to theguide wire 332. A kickstand spring 374 is attached between the hingeplate 362 and the kickstand plate 372. A head rest Bowden cable 50 ispreferably provided with the head rest Bowden cable conduit 52 attachedto the hinge plate 362 and the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 attachedto the kickstand plate 372.

When a severe load is applied to the basket 330, such as in the case ofa collision from behind, the basket 330 will flatten and the hinge wire360 may be drawn towards the guide wire 330. As the hinge wire 360 drawscloser to the guide wire 330, the hinge plate 362 will slide away fromthe kickstand plate 372. As the distance between the two platesincreases, the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 will be pulled away fromthe terminal of the head rest Bowden cable conduit 52 and the tension inthe head rest Bowden cable wire 54 will increase. The increased tensionin the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 preferably actuates the head rest20, drawing it closer to the head of an occupant of the seat.

According to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, illustratedin FIGS. 15-19, an upper portion of the basket 330 is preferablyslidably connected to the guide wire 332 and a lower portion of thebasket 330 is preferably slidably connected to a hinge wire 460.According to this embodiment, an upper portion of the hinge wire 460 ispreferably hingedly connected to the guide wire 332 by way of a bracket440. A middle portion of the hinge wire is preferably slidably connectedto a pair of arcuate springs 450. The upper and lower ends of thearcuate springs 450 are attached to upper and lower sliders 452, 454,respectively, which are slidably connected to the guide wire 332.According to this embodiment, the head rest Bowden cable conduit 52 ispreferably connected to the upper slider 452, and the head rest BowdenCable wire 54 is preferably connected to the lower slider 454.

When a severe load is applied to the basket 330, such as in the case ofa collision from behind, the basket 330 will flatten and the hinge wire460 may be drawn towards the guide wire 332. As the hinge wire 460 drawscloser to the guide wire, the arcuate springs 450 flatten, causing theupper and lower sliders 452, 454 to separate from one another, therebyincreasing the tension in the head rest Bowden cable wire 54. Theincreased tension in the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 preferablyactuates the head rest 20, drawing it closer to the head of an occupantof the seat.

According to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, illustratedin FIGS. 20-25, upper and lower portions of the basket 330 are slidablyconnected to the guide wire 332. A bottom portion of the guide wire 332is attached to a bar 520 that slides in an arcuate channel 522 within ahousing 524. Each side of the bar 520 is connected to an outer portionof a torsion spring 526 which biases the bar 520 in a position towardsan occupant of the seat. The center of the torsion springs 526 are fixedto the housing 524.

According to this embodiment the head rest Bowden cable conduit 52 isattached to the lower portion of the guide wire 332 and the head restBowden cable wire 54 is attached to the housing 524. When a severe loadis applied to the basket 330, the lower portion of the guide wire 332and the bar 520 are pushed in the direction of the applied force, alongthe arcuate channel 522 within the housing 524. As this occurs, thedistance between the point at which the head rest Bowden cable conduit52 is attached to the lower portion of the guide wire 332 and the pointat which the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 is attached to the housing524 is increased. Accordingly, the tension in the head rest Bowden cablewire 54 is increased and is preferably used to actuate the head rest 20.Preferably, the head rest 20 is drawn towards the head of an occupant ofthe seat.

According to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, asillustrated in FIGS. 26-29, upper and lower portions of the basket 330are slidably connected to the guide wire 332. A lower portion of theguide wire 332 is connected to one end of a cam 620. The other end ofthe cam is connected to an outer portion of a torsion spring 624. Thecenter of the torsion spring 624 is fixed with respect to a seat frame,and preferably the cam 620 rotates about the center of the torsionspring 624.

According to this embodiment, the head rest Bowden cable conduit 54 isattached to a bracket 626 on the guide wire 332. The bracket 626 ispreferably placed to allow the full range of vertical movement of thebasket 330. The Bowden cable wire 54 is attached to the end of the cam620 that is connected to the outer portion of the torsion spring 624.When a severe load is applied to the basket 330, the load is transmittedto the lower portion of the guide wire 332, which is then displaced inthe direction of the applied force, causing the cam 620 to rotate. Asthe cam 620 rotates, it pulls the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 awayfrom the head rest Bowden cable conduit 52, thereby increasing thetension in the head rest Bowden cable wire 54. The increased tension inthe head rest Bowden cable wire 54 preferably actuates the head rest 20,drawing it closer to the head of an occupant of the seat.

Seventh and eighth embodiments of the present invention, as illustratedin FIGS. 30-37, provide a lumbar support device comprising a basket 730with an upper portion slidably connected to a guide wire 732. Inoperation, an actuator 734 preferably controls the curvature of thebasket 730. The actuator 734 preferably operates a curvature Bowdencable 736 that varies the distance between the upper and lower portionsof the basket 730 thereby varying the curvature of the basket 730.

Although the seventh and eighth embodiments are illustrated inconjunction with the described lumbar support device, the disclosedmechanisms for actuating a head rest 20 could be used in conjunctionwith numerous devices located within the back of a seat. Accordingly,the scope of the present invention is not limited to the use of thedisclosed mechanisms for actuating a head rest in conjunction with thelumbar support device described above.

According to the seventh embodiment of the present invention,illustrated in FIGS. 30-33, a lower end of the guide wire 732 ishingedly attached to a hinge wire 760 and a kickstand wire 770. Theopposite end of the kickstand wire 770 is hingedly attached to a sliderhousing 780. The hinge wire 760 is hingedly engaged with a slider 782that is in sliding engagement with a channel 784 in the slider housing780. A spring 786 is preferably provided connecting the slider 782 andthe end of the kickstand wire 770 engaged with the slider housing 780.

According to this embodiment, the head rest Bowden cable conduit 52 ispreferably fixed with respect to the slider 782, and the head restBowden cable wire 54 is preferably fixed with respect to the end of thekickstand wire 770 engaged with the slider housing 780. When a severeload is applied to the basket 730, such as in the case of a collisionfrom behind, the basket 730 will flatten and the guide wire 732 will bepressed towards the slider housing 780. Accordingly, the slider 782 willbe pressed away from the kickstand wire 770, thereby increasing thedistance between the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 and the head restBowden cable conduit 52, which increases tension in the Bowden cablewire 54. The increased tension in the head rest Bowden cable wire 54preferably actuates the head rest 20, drawing it towards the head of anoccupant of the seat.

According to the eighth embodiment of the present invention illustratedin FIGS. 34-37, a lower portion of the guide wire 732 is preferablyattached to a substantially arcuate spring 820. The arcuate spring 820is preferably constructed of spring steel. First and second ends of thearcuate spring 820 are preferably fixed to first and second slidingmembers 822, 824. The first and second sliding members 822, 824 areslidingly engaged with a frame crossmember 826, which is fixed to aframe.

According to this embodiment, the head rest Bowden cable conduit 52 isattached to one of the sliding members 822, 824 and the head rest Bowdencable wire 54 is attached to the other sliding member 822, 824. When asevere load is applied to the basket 730, the basket 730 will flattenand the arcuate spring 820 may flatten. Accordingly the first and secondsliding members 822, 824 will be pressed away from each other andtension on the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 will be increased. Theincreased tension on the head rest Bowden cable wire 54 preferablyactuates the head rest 20 such that the head rest moves towards the headof an occupant of the seat.

According to a ninth embodiment of the present invention illustrated inFIG. 38, a bladder lumbar support 920 is provided. The bladder lumbarsupport 920 is filled with a fluid, which may be air, water or any otherfluid. The pressure of the fluid within the bladder lumbar support 920can be increased or decreased to increase or decrease the amount oflumbar support provided. Generally a pump 922 is used to control thepressure within the bladder 920. Although not shown in theillustrations, the vertical position of the bladder lumbar support couldalso be controlled by a vertical actuator assembly.

The bladder lumbar support 920 is preferably connected to a passageway924 between the bladder lumbar support 920 and a head rest actuatormechanism. According to this embodiment, when a severe load is appliedto the bladder lumbar support 920, the pressure of the fluid inside thebladder lumbar support 920 and the passageway increases 924. Theincreased pressure of the fluid drives the actuation mechanism andthereby preferably actuates the head rest 20 such that the head rest 20moves towards the head of an occupant of the seat.

As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, asdescribed above with reference to the corresponding illustrations,without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather thanlimiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention shouldnot be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, butshould be defined only in accordance with the following claims appendedhereto and their equivalents.

1. A head rest actuation system comprising: a seat back pivotablebetween an upright position and a folded horizontal position; a firstBowden cable having a conduit and a wire; a head rest having anoperative position and a folded position; wherein an end of the firstBowden cable wire is fixed to a point remote from the seat back; whereintension in the first Bowden cable wire is increased when said seat backpivots from the upright position to the folded horizontal position; andwherein the increase in the tension of the first Bowden cable wireactuates the head rest from the operative position to the foldedposition.
 2. An actuation system according to claim 1 furthercomprising: a cable terminal connected to said first Bowden cable; acable termination block disposed in said cable terminal, said cabletermination block having a first end and a second end, said cabletermination block at one of said first end and said second end beingconnected to said first Bowden cable; a second Bowden cable connected tothe other one of said first end and said second end of said cabletermination block, said second Bowden cable being further connected to ahead rest actuation mechanism.
 3. A head rest actuation systemcomprising: a seat; a lumbar support basket; a Bowden cable having awire and a conduit; a head rest; an actuator in operative communicationwith the Bowden cable wire such that when the actuator increases tensionin the Bowden cable wire, the lumbar support basket is pulled towards anoccupant of the seat; and wherein a force applied against the lumbarsupport basket causes the Bowden cable to actuate the head rest towardsthe head of the occupant of the seat.
 4. A head rest actuation systemcomprising: a head rest; a guide wire; a lumbar support basket slidablyconnected to the guide wire; a Bowden cable having a wire and a conduit;wherein a force applied to the lumbar support basket creates tension inthe Bowden cable wire; and wherein the tension in the Bowden cable wireprovides an actuating force to the head rest.
 5. The actuation system ofclaim 4 further comprising: a hinge wire slidably connected to the guidewire, wherein a lower portion of the lumbar support basket is slidablyconnected to the hinge wire; a kickstand wire hingedly connected to thehinge wire and slidably connected to the guide wire; a spring fixed on afirst end at the sliding connection of the kickstand wire and the guidewire and fixed at a second end at the sliding connection of the hingewire and the guide wire; wherein the Bowden cable conduit has a terminalfixed with respect to the sliding connection of the hinge wire and theguide wire; and wherein the Bowden cable wire has a terminal fixed withrespect to the sliding connection of the kickstand wire and the guidewire.
 6. The actuation system of claim 4 further comprising: a hingewire hingedly attached to the guide wire, wherein a lower portion of thelumbar support basket is slidably connected to the hinge wire; asubstantially arcuate spring having a midpoint slidably attached to thehinge wire, a first end attached to a first slider, and a second endattached to a second slider; wherein the Bowden cable conduit has aterminal attached to the first slider and the Bowden cable wire has aterminal attached to the second slider.
 7. The actuation system of claim4 further comprising: a housing; a torsion spring having a center and anouter portion, wherein the center is attached to the housing and theouter portion is attached to a lower portion of the guide wire; whereinthe Bowden cable wire has a terminal attached to the housing and theBowden cable conduit has a terminal attached to the lower portion of theguide wire.
 8. The actuation system of claim 4 further comprising: atorsion spring having a center and an outer portion, wherein the centeris fixed with respect to a seat frame; a cam rotating substantiallyabout the center of the torsion spring and having a first and secondend; wherein the first end is attached to a lower portion of the guidewire and the second end is attached to the outer portion of the torsionspring; wherein the Bowden cable conduit has a terminal attached to theguide wire and the Bowden cable wire has a terminal attached to thesecond end of the cam.
 9. The actuation system of claim 4 furthercomprising: a hinge wire hingedly connected to the guide wire andhingedly connected to a slider; a kickstand wire hingedly attached tothe guide wire; a housing having a channel, wherein the kickstand wireis hingedly attached to the housing and the slider is slidingly engagedin the channel; wherein the Bowden cable conduit has a terminal fixedwith respect to the slider and the Bowden cable wire has a terminalfixed with respect to the housing.
 10. The actuation system of claim 4further comprising: a substantially arcuate spring fixed to a lowerportion of the guide wire at a midsection of the spring, fixed to afirst slider at a first end of the spring, and fixed to a second sliderat a second end of the spring; a frame crossmember having a first andsecond channel, wherein the first slider is sliding engaged in the firstchannel and the second slider is slidingly engaged in the secondchannel; wherein the Bowden cable conduit has a terminal fixed withrespect to the first slider and the Bowden cable wire has a terminalfixed with respect to the second slider.
 11. A head rest actuationsystem comprising: a head rest actuator; a lumbar support bladder filledwith a fluid having a passageway to the head rest actuator, wherein anincrease in the pressure of the fluid provides and actuating force tothe head rest actuator.